Antecedentes teóricos del fenómeno a estudiar

There are many sources of information about HIV and AIDS available but not all people in Indonesia are able to find it. There have been numerous programs to broadcast information about the epidemic in Indonesia and in Bandung, for the past three decades but this information does not reach all people nor improve their comprehension of the epidemic. Ignorance is still common among senior politicians. In 2010, Tifatul Sembiring, former Minister for Communication and Information, was well known for tweeting jokes about the disease and once referred to HIV as ‘the result of genital misuse’ (Ind.: akibat itu-nya ditaruh sembarangan) (Jakarta Post, 2010). In 2015, the trade minister, Rachmat Gobel, told journalists that; ‘Used clothes can transmit skin diseases. People can even catch HIV. It is true. There is a laboratory study that has proven it’. He later apologised for this statement (Straitstimes, 2015). These statements are but a few examples of how misconceptions and misunderstandings about the epidemic result from lack of knowledge.

Whereas the formal organisations, government and non-government, in their response to HIV and AIDS, worked to provide platforms for disseminating knowledge about the epidemic, the information from these organisations rarely filters down to urban communities. The National AIDS Commission has produced informative printed and electronic material that has been distributed to city and district AIDS commissions. However, it is not distributed widely. People not engaged in HIV and AIDS programs do not have any exposure to such information. Furthermore, the prose style of the leaflets and brochures too often uses technical language that is not easily understood. WPA groups have complemented the work of the more official sources of information by ensuring that information does reach those in the community who most need it and in a form that is easily understood. These groups facilitate knowledge transfer to local residents, particularly those who are not part of networks connected to HIV and AIDS organisations.

Residents of Kelurahan Kebon Gedang in Bandung who have taken part in WPA activities to exchange information about the epidemic confirmed the benefits of WPA action. These residents said that before Euis Farida (one of the kader) started her work there, many of them did not have any knowledge about the epidemic. Siti Humairah, a housewife and next-door neighbour of Euis Farida, confirmed this. According to her, she and other women would never have known the relevance of the topic to them and their daily lives unless had Euis Farida told them; they do not read newspapers and their television and radio programs are limited to entertainment and news. Therefore, the chances that they would receive such information are 149

small. As well, they do not have anything to do with institutions involved with the epidemic. The terrace of Siti’s house became the place for women to gather and spend the afternoon each day. During these gatherings, they usually talked about recent entertainment and news on television. Over the course of several months, after Euis Farida attended a workshop and training on HIV and AIDS, she often relayed information about it. Then HIV and AIDS became a new topic of conversation. In particular, they discussed the transmission of the virus through sexual contact. In the beginning, Siti said that they were not comfortable discussing the topic because they did not think it was relevant to them. She recalled how one woman said they (the women in the group) would never get the disease because they are married and do not engage in extra-marital sex. However, after Euis showed them material from the workshop and training, their view of the epidemic changed, particularly the view about their risk of getting an HIV infection within marriage. She admitted that she cursed Euis Farida for passing on this information. She asserted:

Once I knew about the issue, I begin to question my safety from HIV in my marriage. I began to observe my husband’s attitudes more closely than before. I became afraid of the possibility that my husband might have engaged in extra-marital sex because he often works outside Bandung. However, I do not dare to ask him because I am aware that such questions will offend him. Therefore, I think frequently about ways to determine whether my husband is faithful, and how to keep myself safe. I have a dilemma. On the one hand, I want to know more about HIV. On the other hand, increasing my knowledge of HIV and the epidemic makes me very anxious. But I decided to continue learning more about it so I can take some preventive action (Siti Humairah, local resident of Kebon Gedang).

Siti treats Euis Farida as her ‘living dictionary’ on the topic. She knows that Euis often attends HIV information sessions and always has up-to-date information. She asked Euis for her advice about the best way to discuss the topic with her husband who works away from Bandung at times.

Euis’s knowledge of HIV and her reputation as a WPA kader is well known among her neighbours, not only women but also young people. She gave information on HIV and reproductive health to young people during a youth organisation meeting and subsequently became the primary source of such information for young people. About a week after the youth meeting at Kebon Gedang, I found four young girls, all of junior and senior-high school age, packed into the small living room at Euis’ house. They were discussing menstrual pain. At another time when I visited Euis, I found her in front of her house having a discussion about

narkoba (Ind.) illicit drugs with two boys.

I asked several of the girls and boys about Euis’ activities. All said she had become their main source of information on puberty, reproductive health, drugs, HIV and AIDS. According to them, they feel the need for information about these topics because they do not get it at school. Some of them said they do not talk about such topics with their parents because they do not feel comfortable discussing such matters with them. She said:

Sometimes I want to discuss it (reproductive health) with my mother but I do not know why I always feel awkward to start it. I just have my first kiss last week. I was so happy and excited. But then I regret the kiss. I must not go too far because it is prohibited by religion. I feel so scared because I just committed a sin. I am so stressed. I need to talk to somebody. Of course I am not choosing my mother to talk about it and I worry she will be angry at me. So, I prefer to talk to Bu Euis (Anissa, junior-high school, female student, and local resident of Kebon Gedang).

Meanwhile the boys were sure their parents did not know about drugs and HIV. Therefore, when they learnt that Euis Farida had the knowledge, they preferred to go to her. They know they can get information through the Internet. However, they prefer having a discussion with Euis and friends. According to them, gathering and having a discussion is much more interesting than sitting in an Internet café, or using a mobile phone, to gather such information.

My parents were busy with their grocery stall at the market. I believe they do not know about drugs and HIV and AIDS because I have never heard them talk to me about it. I first know about narkoba

and HIV AIDS from my teacher and from social media. But my teacher did not explain further about it and information in social media is sometimes confusing. So, when Bu Euis told us about it so thoroughly, I understood the consequence of drug using and HIV and AIDS (Sholeh Munawar, senior-high school, male student, local resident of Kebon Gedang).

In Indonesia, most schools has not provided curriculum on adolescent sexuality, reproductive health, drugs and HIV/AIDS despite the fact that students are in the need for the information (Pohan, 2011; Pakasi and Kartikawati, 2014; Budiharsana, 2017; Utomo et al., 2014). Taboo and limited material for the education is the main reason for the absent of the curriculum. Therefore, Euis’s activity to provide information on sexuality, reproductive health, drugs, and HIV/AIDS is among the limited source of information in the neighbourhood where young people could access information about it and have interactive discussion on it.

Siti Humairah and young people at Kebon Gedang regarded Euis Farida as their HIV and AIDS knowledge mediator. Their statements clearly confirm the benefit of WPA action to disseminate information about the epidemic. WPA kader sharing information have helped 151

people to improve their knowledge of HIV and AIDS. As well as the benefit of her work, people in Kebon Gedang appreciate Euis’s sincerity.

I know Bu Euis very well because we are neighbours. She does not have much wealth because she is no longer working permanently, nor does her husband. Other people in her current situation prefer focusing on earning a living for their family and do not care about others. But Bu Euis always cares about others, despite her poverty. She often gives us important information and is willing to give us advice. She told us emphatically to avoid narkoba and avoid behaviour that might lead to an HIV infection. So I really appreciate her work (Alfiansyah, senior-high school student, recipient of WPA action and resident of Kebon Gedang).

The narratives of residents at Kebon Gedang show their positive attitudes to WPA activities, which have benefitted them, improved their knowledge of the epidemic and made them more aware of it. They highly appreciate the WPA kader for their initiative because the knowledge obtained from them helps them to take preventive measures. Experiencing the benefits of WPA action, residents continue to appreciate their initiatives and responses.